濟衆院醫學堂 입학생의 신분과 사회진출 : 李謙來를 중심으로(제중원의학당 입학생의 신분과 사회진출)

Abstract

This study considers the social class and social role of the entering students of Jejoongwon at that time in light of its very first medical graduate Kyum-Rae Lee Foremost Kyum-Rae Lee was confirmed to have been from a middle-class family However unlike other chungin-class families his family belonged to the minority He seemed to have entered medical school to seek opportunity to move up in social class by taking advantage of special government provisions which allowed him to learn English and Western medicine Afterwards he performed heroic services in the peasant-war proceeded up to administration and participated in the modernization of Great Han Empire With his knowledge of Western concepts he became involved in numerous social activities such as organizing the Enlightenment Society and leading the Enlightenment Movement In much the same way most early students were from low-class background with exceptional personal abilities and were able to pass aptitude examinations Such achievements allowed them to apply for positions in the military and administrative management Ten years later medical education to train medical professionals was revived with changes in attitudes of people of Chosun Dynasty toward Western medicine and with creation of formal medical study.